Perry announces new workforce training initiative

HARLINGEN — Gov. Rick Perry has announced a new workforce training initiative that aims to fast-track education for people with skills and real-world experience but without formal certification.

Perry said Tuesday the Skilled Workforce Initiative would seek to meet the growing demand for skilled workers in areas such as advanced manufacturing with people who already have some training and experience, including military veterans and displaced workers.

Perry said by assessing those students’ skills and giving them credit for what they already know, the time to achieve certification can be cut dramatically. Less time will mean less cost as well.

The first classes would begin in September 2013 at Texas State Technical College campuses in Harlingen and East Williamson County.

AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry named a San Antonio attorney and businessman who served on the Texas Public Safety Commission as secretary of state, Texas’ chief elections officer.

John Steen replaces Hope Andrade, who announced she was stepping down last week after four years on the job, saying only that it was time to leave.

In addition to running elections, Steen will serve as Perry’s liaison on border and Mexican affairs and become the state’s chief protocol officer on international affairs.

Steen has contributed around $56,000 to Perry’s gubernatorial campaigns, mostly through expenses incurred at Perry events. He also has given money to other top Republicans, including Attorney General Greg Abbott, Comptroller Susan Combs and Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, according to filings with the Texas Ethics Commission.

The Public Safety Commission oversees the Department of Public Safety and its five members are appointed by Perry and confirmed by the state senate for six-year terms. In February, Perry had named Steen to a second term that would have expired at the end of 2017.

Steen also is past chairman of Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and once served on the Texas Commission on Economy and Efficiency in State Government.

He was vice chairman of the University of Texas San Antonio Development board and served as a lieutenant in the Army Reserve.

EL PASO — An ailing 26-year-old California sea lion at a West Texas zoo has died. The El Paso Zoo announced the death of Sunny on Monday.

Authorities said Sunny died Sunday in a behind-the-scenes pool where he was being monitored by zookeepers. Officials said Sunny had not been exhibited for the past couple of weeks due to age-related medical issues.

No specific cause of death was immediately provided for Sunny, who was born June 12, 1986, at the zoo. The animal was featured in ocean conservation displays for more than 15 years. The sea lion exhibit closed Monday amid word of the death of Sunny. The display featuring a 14-year-old sea lion named Sushi reopens Tuesday.